Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Mbali Mnaba and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Leah van Schalkwyk. See attached picture here.
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the Fezile Dabi District Municipality Fire and Rescue Services Unit’s procurement of 200 fireballs to help communities respond to small fire outbreaks.
Former MMC Environmental Health & Emergency Services, Cllr Carina Serfontein, introduced this initiative as an alternative, proactive way to reduce the impact of fire outbreaks across the District.
The Fireball is a device designed to activate automatically upon contact with an open flame or intense heat to release a firefighting agent. The device extinguishes small fires and early-stage fires quickly and effectively.
Over the next few weeks, the District Municipality will distribute these fireballs in all four local municipalities (Moqhaka, Ngwathe, Mafube & Metsimaholo) in towns identified as at risk of fire outbreaks, in line with the risk-based model developed by the Fire and Rescue Unit.
Many towns within our district do not have fire stations situated nearby, which makes it difficult to extinguish fires timeously when they occur. Fireballs are not a long-term solution but an interim measure while the District sources funding/investment for satellite fire stations, equipment, and other resources for all towns within its jurisdiction.
The District’s Fire and Rescue officials will hold demonstrations in identified towns to educate community members and public representatives on the safe and appropriate use of fireballs.
The DA in Fezile Dabi District believes in implementing preparedness and prevention mechanisms as part of a fire and rescue emergency plan, in addition to other existing mechanisms.